Curse

Dragou Du Porzan · Feb 21, 2007, 07:23 PM // 19:23

Last weekend was the Canthan New Year festival, and lots of people were excited to try their hand at the new roller beetle mini-game. One of the draws to this event was the promise of prizes for the top 100 finishers. We know how it all worked out, and there have been hard feelings in some corners over various issues. One thing that may have been missed during the post-event discussion, however, was an extremely good deed that is (at the moment) in danger of going unrewarded.

I don't know about you, but I was horrible at beetle racing when I first tried it. I was finishing last in races where the top scores weren't that high. We all could see the big scores posted on the leader board. Chatting with my fellow racers, we all admitted there was pretty much no chance for us to hit those marks. I spent a fair amount of time learning the track and bettering my skills, and I did improve... but still wasn't close to the top 100. I wasn't racing to win a prize, but of course I wanted to do as well as possible and the lack of success was frustrating.

Now the first nice thing is that one of our forum members, Feathermoore Rep, created an excellent general roller beetle guide to help players get familiar with the game. In this thread people were giving each other tips to improve their play. But it wasn't until a forum member named namkey posted this annotated map that things really turned around.

Why is this of interest? Because at the time he posted the guide, namkey was ranked amongst the top 100. He had no reason to share his secrets. All he had to do was sit on his scores for 43 more hours and he's got his prize. Instead, he risked his position in the ladder and took time out from competing to craft a detailed guide so that average players (like me) could feel the pride of improving their scores.

The result was a collective leap in competitive play. Within hours of namkey releasing his guide, scores in the beetle arena began rapidly rising. No doubt this was in part due to increasing familiarity with the skills and course, but given the thousands of views of Feathermoore's thread (and namkey's guide) I think it's fair to say that namkey's strategies were having a significant impact. Between the release of namkey's guide and the event's conclusion, the bottom scores of the top 100 had jumped by a whopping 7,000 points! And though most people didn't crack the top 100, many people got to enjoy much greater success in the beetle arena than they had originally hoped to have.

There was one unfortunate side effect of this generosity, however: By offering up his strategies, namkey lost his place amongst the top 100. Again, I don't know about you, but I think this is extremely unfortunate. This is a person who was not involved with any kind of cheating or griefing and who was saddled with the additional handicap of 500+ pings due to playing in Australia. He did something nice for the community and ended up with nothing to show for it.

That's where we can come in. I'm proposing that people who recognize this kind of selflessness is good for the GW community as a whole submit a pledge for a donation to namkey. This donation is not to purchase a beetle; that's an unrealistic goal given their going prices. Instead, this donation is intended to be a small sign that good deeds like this are appreciated. There will be no minimum or maximum amount attached to this pledge; you can just give what you would like to and can afford.

If you're inclined to participate, here's how it will work: Between now and next Tuesday you can respond by simply stating your interest in donating. No specific donation amounts need to be mentioned. We'll be waiting until Tuesday because there is still some (small) hope that the roller beetle ladder will be modified this weekend to display the top 100 scoring individual accounts rather than the top overall scores. If this change were to occur, namkey may well get his beetle after all, and you can save your money (or perhaps use it to buy him a pint of ale in celebration).

Once Tuesday arrives, if no changes to the ladder have been made, I'll start asking for specific pledges (which you can PM to me along with your IGN and times when you're likely to be available in-game). Once the pledges are collected, I'll match the highest pledge and turn over the total donation to namkey.

Again, there is no minimum or maximum to pledges, so don't be concerned if you have little to give. This is one of those times when "It's the thought that counts" is the apropos ideal to work with. You don't have to be rich, you don't have to have posted a top 100 beetle time, you don't even have to have raced at all to get involved with this: you just have to have an interest in seeing that good deeds do occasionally go rewarded. Thanks in advance for your support!

JGaff · Feb 21, 2007, 08:16 PM // 20:16

I'm a bit short on cash at the moment (I lent some dough to guildies...)

I feel that there ought to be a modest reward involved. Showering anybody with enough to buy FoW is a bit much, Namkey probably ought to weigh in on what's appropriate, especially if he's already rolling in plat. We'd want to make a meaningful gift as a community, no?

Sugar Magnolia · Feb 21, 2007, 08:25 PM // 20:25

I am also willing to donate. I had a hard time in the races too, but it was fun. Maybe with the map I can do better this weekend.
He should be rewarded for his teamwork attitude, but lets find out what would be appropriate as suggested above.

Draikin · Feb 21, 2007, 08:33 PM // 20:33

It's really Anet that should do something about the top 100 list so I hope they update the list to include all the winners. In any case I was one of the people, if not the first, to ask namkey how he managed to get those highscores so consistently so I will donate something (if namkey agrees with this initiative of course). Perhaps someone who won a beetle is willing to sell it for a "reasonable" price?

Hengis · Feb 21, 2007, 08:45 PM // 20:45

I have already committed myself to donating in the previous thread, but will restate it here as well.

I was going to make a poll suggesting that if the rankings are readjusted to take out duplicates and Namkey still does not make the top 100, that he be given an honourary top 100 placing anyway!

However, Dragou beat me to the punch with his idea :-)

Dragou Du Porzan · Feb 21, 2007, 09:48 PM // 21:48

I'd say an "appropriate" donation would be any amount you'd feel comfortable with. The first responder offered a very specific (and generous) pledge, but you don't have to do that. In fact, right this moment I'd almost say I'd prefer people not to make a specific pledge just so we don't run into a situation where someone is dissuaded from giving because they feel their contribution wouldn't "live up" to someone else's offer. For now, if you have a serious interest in making a donation, it's enough to post in this thread to make your intent known. We'll start talking specifics on Tuesday, and you can submit pledges to me then via PM so that no one has to worry about pledge comparisons.

I don't think namkey will have a problem with our effort, but if I happen to be wrong about that just drop me a line and I'll let people know, okay? For now, keep posting if you have an interest in giving! Let's see how much community support we can generate.

Asrial · Feb 22, 2007, 02:37 AM // 02:37

Aurorah Winterfox IGN, make me aware through PM's first because sometimes I'll be off doing something else and miss whispers.

JGaff DOES have a point though, about providing a meaningful gift.

Perhaps what we can do is if he doesn't get a beetle, WE do the work in buying him one (money and all) and present it to him as a community present for his selfless act?

Rampager · Feb 22, 2007, 03:31 AM // 03:31

hey yeah i know how hard he worked to stay in top 100 i saw him drop out of it wasnt fun i tell you but i will let him know whats going on here if he doesnt know already since hes in the alliance was good fun trying to top his times

Gaile Gray · Feb 22, 2007, 06:51 AM // 06:51

I just have to say that we may be displaying the Top 100 scoring characters, but you can be assured that the top 100 accounts will receive a prize. No one is receiving multiple awards, so it's very possible that Namkey will have gotten a prize. Or he may find he's entitled to one when the Rollerbeetle Arena reopens this Friday. (We don't list the accounts for obvious reasons -- user names are confidential, as part of the security measures we take to protect your accounts.)

So don't give up hope -- all may work out very nicely for this good and generous community member!

Draikin · Feb 22, 2007, 11:13 AM // 11:13

Thanks for the update Gaile, I guess we'll have to wait until Friday and hope he got the beetle as well. The only thing I'm wondering about is if you could already get the beetle if you had a top 100 account score last weekend? In other words if I didn't get one at the end of the event does that mean I'm not in the top 100 accounts either? It would be nice to have a list with player names that only shows the top time per account so that everyone can verify whether or not they got one.

namkey · Feb 22, 2007, 01:38 PM // 13:38

Wow, never felt so much love before. Thanks to Rampager for bringing this to my attention, Dragou for raising this suggestion and all the people who have contacted me offering donations, including some who I helped in game during the event. I am definately, not rolling Plat as I've never been very good at the PvE side of things, though I do enjoy greatly these special events and PvP. My main goal for the Beetle race events was to get the prize (which I always thought would be a Beetle Mini), so I'd love to get my hands on won, though if the prices are too insane, I might spoil myself with something else. :P

Thanks again everyone, but I still hope that no-one has to make a sacrifice for me.

Commander Ryker · Feb 22, 2007, 04:43 PM // 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I just have to say that we may be displaying the Top 100 scoring characters, but you can be assured that the top 100 accounts will receive a prize. No one is receiving multiple awards, so it's very possible that Namkey will have gotten a prize. Or he may find he's entitled to one when the Rollerbeetle Arena reopens this Friday. (We don't list the accounts for obvious reasons -- user names are confidential, as part of the security measures we take to protect your accounts.)

So don't give up hope -- all may work out very nicely for this good and generous community member!

So does that mean that there will be prizes awarded again when it reopens or was that a one time thing?

Enko · Feb 22, 2007, 04:54 PM // 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Ryker

So does that mean that there will be prizes awarded again when it reopens or was that a one time thing?

probably just means that they'll have access to the npc that gives out the reward again.

Hengis · Feb 22, 2007, 04:55 PM // 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I just have to say that we may be displaying the Top 100 scoring characters, but you can be assured that the top 100 accounts will receive a prize. No one is receiving multiple awards, so it's very possible that Namkey will have gotten a prize. Or he may find he's entitled to one when the Rollerbeetle Arena reopens this Friday. (We don't list the accounts for obvious reasons -- user names are confidential, as part of the security measures we take to protect your accounts.)

So don't give up hope -- all may work out very nicely for this good and generous community member!

Just to clarify, does this mean that even if your name does not appear on the list of top 100 times, but you scored near a top 100 time, you should talk to the Reward NPC to see if you are in fact in the top 100 accounts and will receive a beetle if this is the case?

Or - is the top 100 list going to be revised?

If the first option is correct, then anyone with a score in the 671-672K range would be wise to check with the Rewards NPC just in case.

Gaile Gray · Feb 22, 2007, 04:58 PM // 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hengis Stone

Just to clarify, does this mean that even if your name does not appear on the list of top 100 times, but you scored near a top 100 time, you should talk to the Reward NPC to see if you are in fact in the top 100 accounts and will receive a beetle if this is the case?

Or - is the top 100 list going to be revised?

If the first option is correct, then anyone with a score in the 671-672K range would be wise to check with the Rewards NPC just in case.

I don't see any harm in talking to the NPC, and I do think there may be gain. So yes, I would recommend that people talk to the NPC and determine if their account is in the Top 100! Good luck!

Dragou Du Porzan · Feb 22, 2007, 05:28 PM // 17:28

Well this is outstanding news, Gaile. Thank you very much for clarifying the situation!

For anyone still confused, what Gaile is saying is that multiple top scores from one account will be thrown out when deterring who gets awarded prizes for top 100 scores. Right now my count has 13 individuals holding 48 spots on the top 100. If I've got that right, it means that 35 people were knocked out of the top 100 by duplicate entries from individual accounts. In other words, the 35 people who just missed out on the top 100 are now in line for a beetle! This is great news and a really good call by ANet.

This also gives some hope that namkey will get his beetle, which would be the perfect happy ending to this story. This isn't a given, though, as namkey's top score may not be close enough to the top 100 to qualify. So I'd encourage everyone to keep posting if you're interested in making a donation. Best case scenario is that namkey gets his beetle and we all keep our gold to use on a round celebratory drinks. If he misses out, though, hopefully we'll have a good number of people ready to step up to the plate to show him his good deed was appreciated.

Eviance · Feb 22, 2007, 05:33 PM // 17:33

C. Ryker I think that was a one time thing..... Gailes statement leaves it open to think otherwise but I am fairly certain that she said somewhere before that it was a one time prize event or something of the sort.

Anyways
IGN Lady Eviance
My folks were in town and my mom had a severe cold so I only got to make one run at it. I wish I had gotten more time to play and maybe I will this weekend. I know I never could have gotten into the top 100, but to risk your slot....

Hoyt · Feb 22, 2007, 05:43 PM // 17:43

Dragou Du Porzan:
Your concerns for fairness in regards to Namkey is praiseworthy in itself.
Your taking the time to create and manage this situation is to be commended!
My hat is off to you. Nicely done!

Count me in!
- I've PM'ed you my donation info -

Hengis · Feb 22, 2007, 07:06 PM // 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

I don't see any harm in talking to the NPC, and I do think there may be gain. So yes, I would recommend that people talk to the NPC and determine if their account is in the Top 100! Good luck!

Many thanks for the clarification Gaile :-)

I made the post to which you replied just before leaving work today, and on the way home realised that I had written the scores incorrectly. "No Problem" I thought, "I'll fix that when I get home" *I am not addicted.. making posts at work, thinking about Guild Wars whilst driving home, and then logging on to the forums to fix a post as soon as I get in LOL*.

Anyway, when I got home I saw you had already quoted me, complete with my mistake!

It will be preserved forever now in the Gail archives! LOL

I am sure that anyone for whom this is likely to matter though will realise that I meant to say that people with scores in the 471-472k range, rather than 671-672K should check with the rewards NPC to see if they have in fact got a beetle waiting for them

Thanks again for the clarification.

Rocky Raccoon · Feb 22, 2007, 07:46 PM // 19:46

I think that people who do good for the community and by doing so put their personal goals aside should be rewarded in some way. Count me in on a donation
I'll be more than glad to give to someone of namekey's character.